Academy Improvement

The Monitoring & Evaluation Team - quality assuring our offer

At GLOW Academies Trust, we have a dedicated team of specialists who work as part of the Monitoring and Evaluation Team (MET). With backgrounds in teaching, educational leadership, and educational inspections, the MET provides trust leaders, including our CEO, Board, and Directors, with vital information on the performance of individual academies and the impact of trust-wide strategies.

Working closely with the MET ensures that our Principals feel supported in identifying academy priorities and implementing best practices for positive change. MET reviews go beyond mere narrative or audit; they delve into the root causes of academy successes and any areas of underperformance.

Empowering our leaders to innovate in the best interests of their students and communities is paramount. Therefore, the MET collaborates closely with them through school visits, agreement on practical next steps, and periodic progress reviews throughout the year. Key areas of focus include curriculum planning, teaching quality, student personal development, behaviour, attendance, and the effectiveness of leadership and systems.

Initial visits to our academies occur in the Autumn, with the review team size tailored to the academy's student population and context. Later in the spring or summer term, a second or third visit is conducted to assess progress against previously made recommendations.

Our Director of Monitoring and Evaluation draws from a pool of reviewers to match the lead reviewer to the specific needs of each academy. This approach brings us one step closer to our mission of providing exceptional education at the heart of every community.

National Lead Practitioners - enabling our curriculum 

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in education, GLOW Academies Trust offers our educators the opportunity to become National Lead Practitioners (NLPs) for their respective specialisms. NLPs are exemplary teachers and leaders who are released from their own academy for 1.5 days a week to collaborate, design, and enrich the GLOW Curriculum. They play a pivotal role in promoting best practices across all academies within the trust and are recognised as experts in their field.

The role of an NLP is to contribute to our knowledge-rich curriculum, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of national and international developments in teaching and learning. They dedicate their time to researching and evaluating innovative practices, drawing upon research outcomes, and disseminating this knowledge throughout the trust.

Our NLPs are line-managed by National Curriculum Leads, who collectively report to our National Leads for Curriculum, Pedagogy & Behaviour, and National Directors.

Opportunities for multiple NLPs exist within subject specialisms across the country, allowing for the incorporation of fresh ideas and perspectives from across the group. Through the dedication of our NLPs, we can continuously enhance our curriculum, providing a better learning experience for our teaching staff and students alike.